Monitoring and Alleviation of Symptom Occurrence and Severity Among Thai Children and Adolescents During Cancer Treatments. (November 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Williams, Phoebe D.; Piamjariyakul, Ubolrat; Shanberg, Rachel; Williams, Arthur R.
• Is Part Of: Journal of pediatric oncology nursing. Volume 32:Number 6(2015:Nov./Dec.)
• Page Start: 417
• Page End: 428
• Publication Date: 2015-11
• Subjects: pediatric cancer treatments -- symptom monitoring and alleviation -- Therapy-Related Symptom Checklist for Children; TRSC-C; parental care -- complementary care -- culture; Cancer in children -- Periodicals; Pediatric nursing -- Periodicals; 618.92994
• DOI: 10.1177/1043454214563754
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1043-4542

Abstract

Background : Symptom monitoring and alleviation are important during pediatric cancer treatments.Aims: To examine the use of the Therapy-Related Symptom Checklist for Children (TRSC-C; Thai version) for reported occurrence, severity, and management of treatment-related symptoms within a cohort of Thai pediatric oncology patients/parentsMethod: Cross-sectional study; convenience sample: 100 parents of 71 male children/29 females, 63% with leukemia, 37%, other diagnoses; age-groups: <5 years, n = 33; 5 to 11 years, n = 44; 12 to 17 years, n = 25. Parents reported children's symptom occurrence/severity on the TRSC-C; and complementary care methods on the Symptom Alleviation: Self-Care Methods and their symptom alleviation methods. All tools had good psychometric properties.Results: 18 symptoms on the 30-item TRSC-C occurred in 42% to 95% of children. Mean severity of symptoms was between 1.0 ("a bit") and 2.0 ("quite a bit"); 5-month to 11-year-old children had higher (worse) TRSC-C total scores. Complementary care was used and reported.Conclusions: Monitoring of multiple symptoms with the TRSC-C and parental symptom alleviation helped children.Clinical Implications: Thai parents/patients need and accept assistance in monitoring/managing side effects of pediatric cancer therapy.